Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-09
an uxTERvIEw IN rae WATER.
How a Woman Reporter Interviewed
john Quincy Adams.

lseaton Donoho In the Brooklyn Aagazine.l
AS a boy, being fond OF bathing in the
Potomac. frequently resorted ihlther AZ
carly hours OF summer mornings. Inc
favorite point for such enjoyment was at
"The Sycamores so called because
group OF those trees stood on certain part
OF the shore. The location was IN ths lm'
mediate vicinity Of the present Washington
monument. There l bad sometimes Toe
honor OF attempting TO rival The natltory
XIII OF John Quincy Adams.
Ii was his custom 10 seek the refresh
mtnt OF the River OF Swaus-Pow-tow-
lnsck-at the dewy hours OF or A. NJ.
Nv Young companions and encircled him
rs minnows might swim about whale,
but with no fear, for amoag children he
was rs a child.
strange incident occurred there one
day. Mrs. Anne Royal. a stoui, aged. aud
eccentric widow OF q Revolutionary soldier,
had come to Washington some time before
end undertaken the publication Of IA weekly
paper entitled the HuRHeSS, IN size little
beyond a sheet OF ioolscap, blurred lint,
and more Typographical errors than lines.
Biographical accounts Of gentlemen OF the
Cabinet and Of Congress were its main
ladies' Of The metropolis. II the elite fur
nished her, on her call, with proper data
ana proper pay, their lives were made
glorious in the next No. OF the unique
journal, and they were also presented rs
angels. either masculine or feminine; but
II her visit, as did happen now and then.
met with refusal, the imaginative editor
would invent wonderful circumstances and
A.. 10,
in publication. startled, and even ter
tifed. the subjects thereof and all
their society friends. 90 ii became
necessary to buy OF the yengeiul
madam, and to obtain from her a
pleasant report. Cases OF fancy were often
more profitable TO tie Royal treasury Than
lho,e which were authentic. SO severe
and denuncatory was he editorial tone OF
This Saturday visitor that IL soon created
dread in all quarters, aud few were brave
enoughto provoke her wrath by declining
The applcatiOn Of the proprietor. The de-
mand granted. tho consequent hudation
proved scarcely more acceptable, being eX.
rayagant 20 absurdiiy, and read with ecu.
eral laughter.
No paper Of the period in Washington,
not even the stately and venerable N1tlOaUl
InlCNtVtHcCf. cOuiu cOulDtIE ~ tApShb VI
local subscription with the list OF the HIM
ireSS.
TIE active and reSolutc madam would
have it, and made 1t so, 10y gong from house
toulouse, Office TO Office, stores, departments
of The Government, in word everywhere.
The enterpriSing widow had long sought
IN opportunity TO pay her respects to the
Hon. John Quincy, but sOmehOw-perhaDs
John Quincy knew-iate failed to favor
her.
She CHARGED to learn the carly summer
morning practice OF bis EXcellency, and the
very next day rep ,ired to the river and
The SycamOres. There he was screnely
dispoIting. She looked on with Seit-cOu-
graduation. ThcswimmeT approached the
shore at last, nearer ana nearer, till he OBJ
,tryed her ladyship in waiting, then, the
stream admitting, stood, head and neck eX-
posed above the surface.
Thus situated, a prisoner, she addressed
him, introduced herself, held sufficient
i1ik to furnish subject for 4 fine article In
the following HVHtreSS, which accom-
p-hed. she retired, and once more ali
w-s "quiet on the Potomac"